Denis Puric says Takeru may be too distracted by potential Rodtang rematch: "He's putting a lot of pressure on himself"

Kickboxing specialist Denis Puric believes his opponent's focus might not be where it should be heading into their pivotal showdown at ONE 173 in Tokyo, Japan.

The 40-year-old striker squares off against former three-division K-1 champion Takeru Segawa in a flyweight kickboxing bout inside the Ariake Arena.

During an interview with ONE Championship ahead of fight night on Nov. 16, 'The Bosnian Menace' suggested that 'Natural Born Krusher' may be looking past him toward a potential rematch with former ONE flyweight Muay Thai world champion 'The Iron Man' Rodtang Jitmuangnon.

Puric believes that mental distraction could prove costly.

Get the latest updates on One Championship Rankings at Sportskeeda and more

"I think [Takeru is too focused on Rodtang]. That's definitely what he's doing, and he's putting a lot of pressure on himself," Denis Puric told the promotion.

The Team CSK representative's assessment stems from Takeru's shocking 80-second knockout loss to 'The Iron Man' at ONE 172 in Saitama, Japan, this past March.

That devastating defeat likely left the 34-year-old Japanese striker hungry for redemption, but 'The Bosnian Menace' believes that obsession with avenging his most painful loss could create tunnel vision that prevents Takeru from properly preparing for the opponent directly in front of him.

---

Denis Puric ready to punish Takeru's lack of focus

If Denis Puric's assessment is accurate and Takeru enters their fight mentally divided between facing him and dreaming of a redemption battle against the Thai megastar, the veteran plans to make him pay.

'The Bosnian Menace' has competed against the division's best for close to two decades. As such, he can smell weakness and exploit mental lapses.

Come ONE 173 in Tokyo, Puric has a golden opportunity to derail Takeru's redemption tour before it even begins.

A convincing victory would not only snap his winless streak but also send a message to the entire flyweight kickboxing division that underestimating him because of age or recent results remains a costly mistake.

Tickets for ONE 173: Superbon vs. Noiri can be secured here. Fans around the world can visit watch.onefc.com for how-to-watch details in their region.

Follow One Championship News, Schedule & Results at Sportskeeda.

Edited by Aziel Karthak